What will you do on Herb Day?

Herbs are so much a part of daily life. They are used in food, flavoring, medicine, cleaning, and decor. They can bring such simple joy - there's nothing like a whiff of Pineapple Sage or Rosemary to brighten your spirits.

Saturday, May 7th, is Herb Day. The annual celebration takes time to honor these seemingly innocuous little plants that are all around us. And I mean ALL around us! It's a perfect day to take some time and learn more about your favorite herbs, or discover some new ones.

What can you do to celebrate? How about:

1) Walk around your yard! Try a nibble of a dandelion leaf. Pick the smaller, newer leaves. They are more tender less bitter. Take note of the plantain, ground ivy, violets - yep, those are all herbs!

2) Take a cooking class, or improvise a new spin on a favorite recipe by adding some extra herbs. Add some lavender flowers to some yellow cake mix and make Lavender cupcakes. Use a bright, strong tea to enhance a recipe.

3) Read up on this months Herb of the Month (Nasturtium - beautiful AND tasty!) or the Herb of the Year (peppers - hot or sweet).

4) Herbs are great crafting! They can be used in flower arrangements, made into sachets or potpourri, making pomanders, infused into vinegar's or oils - so many options.

5) Get digging and plant some herbs! Whether it's favorites like peppers, tomatoes, or sage, or some new inspirations like rue or Calendula. Many gardens and markets are having sales this year - so stop by and visit and get inspired. Rutgers Gardens is having their big Spring Flower Fair. Everyone there is very knowledgeable and will be glad to help.

Herb Day can be a kick off for into a year long exploration of the amazing herbal world around us. And you can turn your herbal adventures into gifts for Mom, since the next day is Mothers Day!

Let us know what you to celebrate a Happy Herb Day!

The Happiest of Places - Well Sweep Herb Farm!

There are those places that just always bring a smile to our face. Well Sweep Herb Farm is one of those places for me.

Years ago I came across this gem through a friend. It's nestled in the hills of Warren County. And it's a beautiful drive past farms and mountains and charming old homes. Whenever I go there, I always come home with a selection of plants and herbs  - many of which find their way in to our products. Even on a chill, over cast day it's a trip that highlights the glories of New Jersey.

Last week I journeyed through the hills for the Winter Green House Tour. In the spring and summer, the farm, though small in size is absolutely bursting with flowers and herbs to make a gardener giggle with delight. Even in winter, there are wonders everywhere.

The tour through the green houses and the farm was led by Cyrus Hyde, owner of Well Sweep and an amazing font of herbal lore and knowledge. 

When Cyrus talks about the history of the various herbs and plants, there is a passion that is contagious. He can tell you about the biblical references for the herbs, the folk lore, medicinal uses, and their growing habits. Many of the plants available at Well Sweep are developed by Cyrus over the years. A favorite is Cy's Sunburt Scented Geranium. It's delightful and smells fabulous! The selection of lavenders and rosemary's is amazing.

Part of the tour was conducted by Patrick, Cyrus's grandson. In him you can hear the same passion as his grandfather. His knowledge also expansive. He is very well versed in carnivorous plants, which is really cool. And he's developing his own talents at creating topiaries, which are a specialty of Well Sweep.

I could go on and on about Well Sweep. Their shop is packed with interesting herb related items: dried herbs, essential oils, books, note cards, planters, etc. And if you enjoy making your own dried arrangements, their selection of dried flowers is unsurpassed and beautifully displayed.

At the height of the season, the farm is filled with perennials as well as exotic plants. There are places to enjoy a picnic lunch, you can stroll through the magnificent display gardens, and get advice from generations of experienced herbal and professionals. They have a number events throughout the year and I strongly recommend you take advantage. It is a place filled with wonder and magic and I'm pretty sure there's a few fairies around there, too. Just check Louise's fairy garden. It is really one of my happy places. I hope it becomes one of yours.

Sharing the Love ... of Catnip

In our newsletter I talked about some of the many benefits of Catnip – that perennial herbal favorite of cats. But they aren't the only ones that love this perennial herb. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family. It's sometimes called catmint.

This pretty and prolific herb is filled with vitamins and minerals: Chromium, Iron, Manganese, Potassium, Selenium, with Calcium, Magnesium,Phosphorus, Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin A and some Folate (B9), Niacin (B3), Silicon, Sodium, Sulfur,Thiamine (B1), Vitamins B5, B6, B12, C, and Zinc.

One of the wonderful things about catnip (among the many others) is that it is safe to use for all ages – children and adults. It can be used as infusions, teas, compresses, tinctures and just about anything!

If you are using this for people, I would recommend that you use fresh catnip or dried herbs from a reliable herbal source. Do not make a tea for yourself or your children with the catnip you buy for your kitties. That may be old or cut with something that won't hurt the fluff balls, but might not be great for you.

Here are a few of my favorite uses for catnip.

Cozy ZZZ's
This tea is lovely to sip before bedtime. Calming and soothing for digestion, your sleep will be cozy as a kitty curled up on a pillow.
1 teaspoon catnip
½ teaspoon chamomile
½ teaspoon lemon balm
pinch of peppermint
a little licorice root or honey
Pour 2 cups of water over the herbs. Let steep for 5 to 10 minutes than strain. Sip while warm.

Tummy Tamer Tea
½ to 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds. Very soothing.
1 teaspoon catnip
A little grated ginger
Steep in 2 cups boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes then strain. I like adding a spoon of honey as well.

Fussy Baby Tea
½ to 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds. Very soothing.
1 teaspoon catnip
Steep for 5 minutes in 3 to 4 cups of boiling water. Let cool absolutely completely. I would give this to my children when they were very little and had fussy tummies.

• Chew on a few fresh catnip leaves if you have a mild toothache. It'll help!
  

• Make a poultice or compress with catnip flowers and leaves. Works wonderfully for hot rashes.
  

• If mosquitoes are irking you this year, catnip essential oil has been shown to be more effective than DEET. That's why we add it to our new Bugger Off Spray. (Right now it's only available at fairs, but look for it on our websitehttp://www.chairde.com/ soon.)

I will freely admit that, if you live in a household with a cat that likes catnip (there are cats that don't like it the much), it can be challenging making a tea or poultice for people use. Releasing the fragrance of the herb is what attracts our feline friends. I usually put a little sprinkle on the floor for them. Makes things go a little easier.


This is presented as educational and information only. As with anything, be extremely cautious if you have allergies. Check with a doctor if you have medical conditions. Do your own research before trying any herbal remedies.

Do You Strew?

I bet you do and don't even know it!

Me, I love herbs. I’m forever drying them or using them fresh. And when I’m working with them in the house, invariably some of them get on the floor. But I don’t clean them up right away. I let them get crunched and stepped on until I’m done with my work. That way I get the lovely scent wafting all over. And then it’s vacuum time and the herbal fragrance is let loose again.

Using strewing herbs to help freshen and protect the home dates back throughout medieval history. Since most homes then had earth floors, straw or threshes were placed around to absorb a variety of rather unpleasant liquids. That could get pretty stinky, so they added herbs to create a fresh aroma. The herbs also helped repel insects and rodents. Those who strewed provided some protection to the plague, since it was spread by rats and lice.

If you've used one of those carpet powders that you sprinkle on and then vacuum, you're a modern day strewer. You can make your own strewing powder, or add herbs to your home to release aromatheraputic scent as we close the windows and doors to the coming chill. 

To make your own strewing powder, take one small box of baking powder and pour into a dry, glass jar. Baking powder is wonderful for absorbing unpleasant odors. Grind any of the following herbs, or you can use their essential oil. Add two teaspoons of the ground dried herbs or 6 to 12 drops of essential oil to the powder. Shake well. Sprinkle over the carpet. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to a few hours, then vacuum it up (always test a corner of carpet or flooring first for possible staining). Your carpet and home will smell fabulous!

Great herb choices include:

Lavender, rosemary, mint, sage, roses, sweet fennel, lemon balm, chamomile, or bay leaf.

I also make a wonderful strewing powder to help get rid of fleas, mold, bacteria, bugs and such. Having lots of cats, and harboring kittens till they find homes, we have periodic flea battles in our home and this is always at the ready for battle… and for some lovely, brightening fragrance.

Battle Strew
2 cups of borax (20 Mule team version works well)
1 cup diatomaceous earth (you can get this in garden centers and on line)
¼ cup salt
1 tbsp ground lavender
2 tbsp ground penny royal
1 tbsp ground wormwood
2 tsp peppermint
(many of these herbs can be purchased through Mountain Rose Herbs)

Combine all of the ingredients into a quart mason jar. Shake well and sprinkle over carpet and/or furniture. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes and vacuum up.
Sometimes I like to add ground pine needles, or some ground dried orange rind for a little extra kick. You can use any herbs you might have in your cabinet! But be cautious with things like clove or cinnamon as they might stain.

It’s a wonderful and inexpensive way to protect and freshen your home. We may have improved hygiene since the Middle Ages, but we can always use a little herbal fragrance boost.

For more great strewing tips and ideas to add scent to every step, check out this article:  Ancient Aromatherapy Technique. Two other great articles are The Royal Herb Strewer and What are Strewing Herbs?

Play with Your Food - Herbal Sugars

I have an infusion fascination. I admit it. I love taking all those lovely herbs and flowers from my garden and infusing them into a multitude of other things to make intriguing new flavors.

If you saw my apothecarium right now, you'd see 8 or 9 different flavored sugars setting up. There's also about 12 honeys, 10 vinegars, a few salts and many herbal alcohol based extracts waiting for the herbal and fruity goodness to be fully released.

I've talked about herbal sugars before. The simplicity of it makes me wonder why everyone doesn't have some of these herbal sweets in their cabinets at home.

As a quick refresher:
You'll need:

• 1 large, extremely well cleaned dry glass jar with a lid. Quart size
• About 1 cup (loosely packed) of your herb of choice - see some suggestions below.
• Sugar to fill your jar.

1. I prefer to use dried herbs. They infuse their flavor and fragrance without making the sugar clumpy. You can use fresh, but make sure they are rinsed off and then thoroughly dried.
2. Lightly crush the herbs to help release some of the oils.
3. Put about 1/2 inch worth of sugar in the jar.
4. Place a layer of herbs on top of the sugar.
5. Continue layering until you reach within 1/2 inch of the top of the jar.
6. Seal the jar tightly.
7. Let this sit on a shelf for at least two weeks, but the longer you let it sit, the stronger the flavor.

I have a jar of vanilla sugar that's been sitting on the shelf for a few years. Whenever I want to add a vanilla flavor to something, I sift out the measure of sugar that I need. Then I add more sugar to the jar and shake it up well. It smells fabulous when I open the jar!

The best herbs to use for infused sugars are once with a strong fragrance. Here are some of my favorites and how I use them.

Lemon Herb - dried lemon peels, lemon verbena, and lemon balm
Vanilla - just vanilla beans
Cinnamon - several crushed cinnamon sticks
Rose Geranium - Lots of lovely rose geranium leaves
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma, Bergamot, Oswego Tea) - flower heads as well as leaves
Chai Blend - Cinnamon sticks, cloves, a nutmeg, small piece of vanilla bean, a few pepper corns, some holy basil leaves and cardamom pods
Mint - mint leaves
Lime - dried lime peels and lime scented geranium
 
The uses for these delectable sugars are limitless. I like to use all of them when I'm baking. The vanilla or chai make great angel food cake. Blend the Rose Geranium with Strawberry lemonade for a truly refreshing summer treat. There are some wonderful Sorbet recipes at The Herb Companion site - use any of these sugars to bring a different twist to these frozen concoctions. Sprinkle a little Bee Balm sugar on a fruit salad and toss lightly to add some sweet pizazz. I LOVE using the Cinnamon sugar on French Toast, or when I make glazed carrots. I've used the Lime sugar when making a blueberry crumble.


If you have flavored sugars set up, whenever you're creating in the kitchen you can use them instead of regular sugar to add that little something extra to you dish. Have fun with a recipe and play with your food!


Of course, we use them all them time in our sugar scrubs, too.

A Dandy of a National Dandelion Day!

Spring is here, and with it the glory of those early blooming herbs and flowers. And what looks as cheery as the amazing little yellow flowers popping up every where - the lovely little dandelion!

There are many who look at this versatile and nutrition packed little herb as the bane of their existence. Not me - I love them! There is a plethora of information out there about the hardy dandelion, but here are a few of my favorite things to do with them:

• Feed them to my cat. Yep, that's right. My one cat, Sinbad (actually my daughters cat, but that's another story) LOVES dandelions. Any time he sees us go outside, he'll sit in the window and meow rather loudly until we bring some tender greens in for him. We think he learned about them when he used to share a nibble with our rabbit, Nibbles, when we used to bring them in for him. (Nibbles was my daughters, too). Dandelion is a great addition to your cat or dogs food. Just occasionally chop up some dandelion greens to toss in to their food. It will help keep their coats nice and shiny.
• In salads and recipes - replace some spinache with dandelion greens. Younger leaves are as bitter as the large, later season leaves (although I'll occasionally use them, too). They work very nicely in Quinoa Salad or lightly sauteed in a little oil, then tossed with cranberries and walnuts. Yum!
• I like taking the flowers and flower petals and tossing them in with scrambled eggs or omelets.
• Infusing apple cider vinegar with dandelion flowers, leaves and roots make a very nourishing addition to salads, seltzer spritzers, and a refreshing toner for your skin!

For more scoop on this prolific herbal wonder, try check the Herb Companion articles like this, the Herb Quarterly, Learning Herbs - or go on your own dandelion hunt! It's a dandy thing to do on a spring day!

Which Witch in the season of the Witch?

Soon we will be coming upon the season of the Witch. I don’t mean Halloween and “cast a spell” type of Witch (although that is coming and that’s a separate story). I mean season of the Witch … Hazel. Specifically Hamamelis virgniana, the plant that blossoms in late autumn and winter and has such fantastic healing properties.

Witch Hazel is native to the eastern part of the United States and Canada. It has several common names, including popping hazel, long boughs, spotted alder and winterbloom. It was widely used by Native American’s for a number of purposes. They used it for medicine. And because the branches were flexible yet strong, they used it to make their bows. Plants were brought over to Europe in the early 1700’s. In Middle English “wyche” meant pliable or flexible. Hazel – because the tree was similar to hazelnut. Over time it became Witch Hazel. Nothing spooky about that.

The shrub or tree can grow to be 12 to 15 feet tall. The leaves are a lovely red before they fall off for the winter. Here’s where Witch Hazel’s magic begins. After the leaves fall off, beautiful, bright yellow blossom appear in the early to late fall. At the same time, the fruit from last year’s blossoms ripens and makes an audible pop. No wonder the tree is considered to have mystical properties.

Native American Indians utilized Witch Hazel for a variety of medicines, applying decoctions and poultices on cuts, burns, bug bites, bruises, and sore and stiff joints, muscles and backs. Teas were used to help staunch internal bleeding and treat colds, sore throats and other ailments.

Another part of Witch Hazels magic is found in its strength as an astringent and anti inflammatory, as well as anti-itch properties. These enable Witch Hazel to help stop internal and external bleeding. It's a wonderful asset to skin care where it helps ease and prevent acne, tighten and tone up the skin, and help damaged blood vessels under the skin.

Witch Hazel hydrosol is also very effective in treating hemorrhoid’s and varicose veins. It’s a main ingredient in products like Preparation H Pads, Tucks, and others. The tannins and astringency help tighten the distended veins and add a protective structure to help the veins return to a more pliable, normal structure.

Witch Hazel just does so darn much. And you probably have a bottle of it in a bathroom cabinet. The Witch Hazel you find in your cabinet is most likely made from the leaves and young twigs, which are then distilled. The bark is used to make different tinctures and ointments.

I’ve always been a fan of Witch Hazel. I’ve used it straight as skin toner and in hair rinses. I’ve mixed it with different herbs for liniments and bruise treatments.

We use it in a number of our products, including our Face Toner; Dó Gréine Spray for sunburns, rashes and bug bites; Méla Tae Night Moon and Lemon Bright Hair rinses; and in one of our new skin care products (news on that one soon).

As the season of the Witch approaches, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for ghosts, goblins, flying brooms and magical winter blossoms of bright yellow, because Hazel is one of my favorite witches.

How do you like to use witch hazel?

Christmas Trees, Chai Tea and Seed Catalogues

It was late into the evening. I was curled up on the couch, sipping a lovely cup of Ducky Life's Doreen's Green Classical Chai Tea. The lights on the Christmas tree twinkling like stars while I flipped through my catalog, marking pages and taking notes. The wind howled outside, making the 20 something degrees that it was feel more like single digits.

At one point, the catalog was not enough and I jumped up, startling one of my cats and creating momentary havoc when the cat startled the dog. I went to the computer. I pulled up the website and began clicking and filling up my shopping cart. It was about to start the checkout process when I stopped - frozen by realization.

"What the hell am I doing buying seeds right now?"

Yes indeed. I was shopping for seeds and seedlings for my garden. The candy canes were still hanging and yet I had an over whelming urge to start buying things for my garden.

Tis the season of the seed catalog, and it brings thoughts of lovely spring days digging in the dirt and coaxing little seeds to life. Now, many people have a true aptitude for starting seeds. Alas I'm not one of them. I'll keep trying, but it doesn't seem to be my forte.

Days are growing ever so slightly longer. The catalog's hold many temptations for new and exciting herbs to try: Toothache Plant, which soothes sore teeth and gums; Stinging Nettle, wonderful for hair and a nourishing tonic; Roselle, the form of hibiscus with which you make tea; the list goes on and on.

I will be daring, I will get my seeds and try again. I will make my sojourn to Well Sweep Farm and by an array of young plants to nurture. I will refresh my mints and bee balm from Mountain Valley Growers. But first....

I think I should take down the Christmas tree and finish paying off the holiday bills.

What are you looking forward to planting in your garden?

Baby It's Hot Outside! So Spritz it Away!

Ah, the joys of summer. Sunshine, gardening, picnics, beach days - all wonderful parts of the season of the sun.

And then there's the humidity and the oppressive heat. Oh yes, it's a New Jersey summer. But there are a few ways to help you freshen up and beat the heat with a few easy herbs.

Summer Fresh Spritz

What you'll need:

Chickweed is considered by many to be a common weed. But it's really a cooling dynamo that's readily available in most yards. Naturally, you want to make sure you collect any chickweed from an area that is not sprayed or treated in any way.

Mints also provide a wonderful cooling effect, both in fragrance and skin care. Spearmint or Peppermint work the best, but any variety that provides that minty freshness will do.

Rose petals. Yes, those silky little petals are wonderfully refreshing and toning for your skin. Again - select fragrant blossoms that haven't been treated in any way.

Gather a big hand full of each of these herbs and rinse well.

Bring 1 quart of water to a boil. Turn off the heat and add the herbs. Cover and let sit until completely cool.

Strain out the herbs, press to get every bit of goodness out of them. Put the tea into a spray bottle and you have a terrifically cooling and skin soothing spritz to use when ever you're feeling over heated. Be careful using it around your eyes - mint could sting a bit. I like to put it in the fridge to get it extra cool and help it keep longer.

You could also take some and put it in a glass, add some honey and ice, and have an interesting refreshing tea. Although an herb fan and game to try more anything - I prefer the spritz.

Do you have any tips for keeping it cool? Feel free to share!

Prepping for Victory in the Garden

I was just browsing through one of the myriad gardening magazines that flow into my house this time of year. The warm spell this past weekend really helped push me into the “get out and plant” frame of mind, but I wisely chose to mostly clean and prep the gardens and do the planting over the next few weeks.

See, I’m not a great gardener. Oh, I’m not bad, but by no means am I a pro. But I stay at it, and every year I get better. Most of my garden is herbs and annuals. Herbs are relatively easy – many of them are darn near weeds! (That’s another post). This year, I’m looking to give a wider variety of veggies a try. Like many of us, pennies need to be pinched. What better way to save than growing your own veggies. One $3.00 plant can give you $50 worth of food, with a fresh picked taste that cannot be duplicated by supermarket produce.


Usually, I buy plants. One of my favorite sources online is Mountain Valley Growers. They have a terrific selection and I’ve had great success with their plants. I also buy from local growers, such as Barlow’s or Timothy's. They have wonderful selections and very helpful staff.

Of course there are problems along the way. There are a few types of fungus and mildew I seem to fight every year. My biggest problem is a plump little gopher that seems to enjoy eating the leaves off my plants and my tomatoes. Then there’s Rudy. He’s my dog. He seems to like my tomatoes too.

As a true Jersey girl, my garden will prominently feature tomatoes. We’ll probably get at least 3 kinds – a plum, some kind of beefsteak, and some unusual heirloom.

String beans are always a favorite. We never get to cook them because we always eat them fresh from the plant or nibble of them with dip before dinner. I prefer bush plants, because they are a little easier to grow and maintain. I have enough vines roaming around the yard.

I’ve tried growing peas before. It always seems that something happens to them, but since they are one of my absolute favorite veggies, there will be another attempt this year.

Add to that an assortment of sweet and hot peppers. Peppers love my dirt, and I love peppers. They’ll join some unique type of eggplant and probably some zucchini. I may even attempt some spinach, beets and carrots this year.

Some of these plants I’ve attempted to start from seed. My father, the true green thumb in the family, can get amazing plants from old seeds and have them thrive. I don’t seem to do as well. Little seedlings will come up - then I forget to water them, or they get too cold, or too hot. I’ll figure it out sooner or later. But it’s fun to try.

For many people, getting out into the garden is about getting it right from the start. Everything is planted in perfect rows. Seeds that don’t come up or fail along the way are considered disasters. Those people miss so much. Half of the fun of digging in to dirt and planting your seeds or plants is about learning from your mistakes. I’ve discovered that eggplants grow best in my front garden with my flowers. They thrive there and look pretty too. What good is a garden if you can’t play in it!

What will you be planting this year? Will you try a new challenge or stay with what you know? I’ll keep you posted if you keep me posted.

Remember, Nature is a very patient teacher, if you don’t succeed this year, she’ll always give you another chance next year. Victory will come to the garden – and fresh veggies will be on your table!

Bring on the Bay!

I've always used bay leaves. They've been a part of our kitchen for as long as I can remember. They were tossed into sauces, stews and soups as a matter of course. But until I started reading up on this innocuous leaf, I never real thought about it. To tell the truth, I didn't even know if it added any flavor to all of those things I tossed it into.

But since Bay Laurel is Herb of the Year, I've taken a little more time to get to know it. The scent of bay is enchanting. It is said that the priestess of Delphi sat above burning bay laurel so the fumes would increase her prophetic visions. Me, I just like

to take a good sniff. This simple leaf is said to clear your mind allowing greater clarity. It is also calming and great for stress relief. I have a small sachet of a few leaves under my pillow which I find especially useful after a long hard day of work. The sweet yet spicy scent is also said to help respiration, which is another benefit that gives me a great nights sleep.

This ancient herb is also a symbol of protection. You can easily find bay leaf wreaths at places like Well Sweep Herb Farm, florists or other gift shops. You can find them most often during the holiday season, but a special scent like this is appropriate all year round.

I'll keep you informed of my discoveries of the lovely bay - and feel free to let me know about yours.

Giving Bay it's Just Desserts

We often think of Bay leaves as those dry leaves we drop into soups, stews and sauces. It's a main meal type of herb. However, this pungent little leaf is more. And to honor it's place as Herb of the Year, I give you a tempting dessert recipe.

The main recipe appears in the International Herb Associations book "Bay (Laurus nobils) Herb of the Year 2009". This is a fascination collection of information, tips and recipes about and for Bay. I took the recipes from the book and played with them a little, and came up with this yummy dessert that's perfect any time of year.

Gingered Fruit with Bay Syrup


Start by making the Bay Syrup. Make a lot and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It can also be frozen. Bay syrup can be used to flavor drinks, over pancakes, let your imagination run wild. The fragrance and flavor is spicy and sweet.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 cups water
10 bay leaves (fresh works best but you can use dried)

Put the sugar, honey and water in a heavy sauce pan. Add the bay leaves (bruise fresh ones slightly with a spoon). Bring to a low boil over medium heat. Cover and remove from the heat. Let it sit for an hour, or until room temperature. Remove the bay leaves, squeezing lightly to get out all the goodness. Place in a container and refrigerate.

Gingered Fruit

1 pound of fruit (fresh summer fruit works best - nectarines, peaches, plums, cherries, pineapple. You can also add some dried fruit like, currants, raisins, etc.)
1/4 cup of Bay Syrup
2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice.
1 tablespoon agar agar or gelatin

Cut the fruit into pieces. In a sturdy medium saucepan, combine the fruit, syrup and ginger. Cover and simmer on medium for about 7 or 8 minutes, until the juices are flowing and the fruit is slightly tender.

Stir in the lemon juice and gelatin or agar agar (you can find this in some grocery stores, health food stores, and oriental markets). Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off heat and remove from stove.

You can serve this warm or chilled. It thickens quite a bit when chilled. My favorite - take apiece of pound cake, put on a scoop of ice cream, add some of the gingered fruit and a little extra Bay Syrup. Wow, is that good.

Extra fruit can also be refrigerated and nibbled as needed.

The Nobel Bay - The Herb of the Year 2009

Go take a look in your kitchen cabinet. Go ahead. I'll wait.

I bet you have bay leaves in there, don't you? Since ancient times, bay leaves have been an important part of human life. That history and it's place as a culinary staple are part of the reason why the International Herb Association has selected Laurus Nobilis (Sweet Bay Laurel) as the 2009 Herb of the Year.

Since 1995, the International Herb Association has selected an herb to celebrate and educate. The criteria for selection is for the herb to fully meet at least 2 of the following 3 criteria:

• Medicinal properties
• Culinary uses and expanse
• Decorative Value

Last years herb, Calendula, is one of my all time favorite herbs. This year's, Sweet Bay, comes close.

I'll be adding recipes and additional information about our 2009 Herb of the Year winner over the course of time. But I thought I'd start with a little mythology.

There are several versions of how Bay came to be. One is that Daphne, a nymph in ancient Greece, was a beautiful, strong and independent young thing. Apollo, god of sunlight, medicine, healing and more, sees the young nymph and is intrigued by her. Eros (or Cupid) is a bit or a trickster. He hits Apollo with a love arrow, while striking Daphne with an arrow that makes her revile Apollo. Valiantly she flees from Apollos ardorous pursuits. Exhausted she collapses at the river bank, where she calls to her father, the river god Ladonus, and asks for rescue. He transforms her into a richly green Bay tree.

Apollo comes to his sense, but still sees the beauty that the Bay tree holds. He declared the Bay Laurel to be a sacred tree of his own. From that day forth, it was used to wreath the heads of the most learned, wise, and strong.

I leave you there for now, with more information to come. In the meantime you can find out more about this grand herb at The International Herb Association or the Herb Society of America websites.

Tis the Scent of the Season - The Magical Pine

I always have a live Christmas Tree. I know there are those who don't like having to clean up all the needles or the trouble of remembering to water it - but to me it is the very essence of the Yule season. Bringing in the evergreen,whether it be branches or the tree itself, is an ancient tradition which celebrates the returning of the sunshine. A fir tree fills the house with the scent of the season that refreshes and revitalizes the spirit.

Pines, firs and spruces are all conifers, lovely bright spots of green among the grey and white winter background. There are distinctions between them all, described wonderfully at the Stupid Questions archive (personally, I didn't think it was that stupid a question.)

My favorites are the pines, with the wonderful, heart lightening aroma. But they aren't just the holder of lovely ornaments and lights, pines pack some powerful benefits for health and home.

Pine cones are the home to pine nuts (called pignoli in Italy). These with some basil and garlic and olive oil make fabulous pesto. Pine wood is strong and is used for building of all sorts. But did you know you can make tea from pine needles?

Pine is said to help ease breathing and stimulate the respiratory tract as well as aid sooth intestinal disturbances. You can take the younger, tender needles (make sure it's from a tree that hasn't been treated with any chemicals) and steep them in hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and add honey if you'd like. The aroma will open your sinuses and the tea will help soothe you.

Put pine needles in the bedding of your pets. It's said to repel fleas - and it will help it smell good too!

I collect pine needles from my tree outside and from my Christmas tree, let them dry slightly, and put them through my herb grinder. I mix that with some baking powder and use it as a natural carpet deodorizer.

The benefits of pine include the many uses of its essential oil. It is analgesic, antiviral, deodorizing, and so much more. At Celtic Chairde Creations, we use it in our Muscle Rubs for it's ability to soothe sore muscles. It's scent adds that uplifting boost to our Lughnasa Lotion Bar.

I'll be including more information about the wonderful evergreen of the season, whose magic lifts spirits and refreshes the mind. After all, mine is still standing sentinel in the corner, reminding us of all the joy this season can bring.

Count Down to Herb Day - It's Here!

Herb Day is here! Saturday, October 11 is the 3rd annual Herb Day. Herbs are such an intricate part of our lives, it seems appropriate to take a day a celebrate these diverse, interesting and useful plants.

Most of us use dozens of herbs in our everyday lives without even thinking about it. A little basil in the spaghetti sauce, some thyme on a chicken dish, a little mint in your tea are simple things. We at Celtic Chairde use herbs in a myriad of ways - all of our products contain herbal infusions to enhance their purpose, use and fragrance. Many of these herbs grow in my backyard, so I've learned to use the simplest things in new and exciting ways.

You can celebrate Herb Day and enjoy these everyday treasures in new and exciting ways. Here are a few additional ideas to get you started.

1. Make an herb jelly! Mint jelly is probably the most popular, but you can make jelly from rosemary, lemon balm, garlic, geraniums, fennel, violets - any edible herb! The recipe for Rose Geranium jelly is great. If you don't have Rose Geraniums, use the herb of your choice and see what happens!

2. Collect your favorite herbs and use them as a bouquet in your house. Lemon Balm, Pineapple Sage, Mint, Calendula, Feverfew, Lavender, and Basil add fragrant and interesting accents to any corner.

3. Infuse herbs into sugars and vinegars. Any herb you have in abundance can be infused into a vinegar or sugar that will open up exciting new options in cooking. We've told you the secret to sweet success with Herbal Sugars. For herbal vinegars, look here.

4. Learn about a new herb. If you aren't sure what Calendula is, or if you didn't know that oregano can also be used as an antiseptic, try doing a little research and learn something new! The International Herb Association has some wonderful books about past Herbs of the Year. Or just check you local library, book store, agricultural service or garden center!

5. Have a nice cup of tea! What better way to enjoy a crisp autumn day than with an aromatic, enticing, warm herbal tea. It's easy to create your own, or enjoy one of our favorites - Ducky Life teas.

Happy Herb Day everyone!

Count Down to Herb Day - A Lemony Look at the Past

Each year, the International Herb Association select an herb that is outstanding in at least two of three categories: decorative, medicinal, and culinary. This years perfect choice was Calendula, one of my all time favorite herbs, which I've highlighted previously here. I use a lot of calendula in our Celtic Chairde Creations products, around the house for decoration, and even in cooking. But what about choices from previous years? Well, last year was another of my favorites.

Sweet Melissa. Melissa officinalis that is. That's the official name for Lemon Balm. This happens to be one of my very favorite herbs. It's easy to grow, and has so many uses.


Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family. As such, it can be a prolific grower in your garden, spreading its pretty leaves and lemony scent to places you may not want it to be. To help keep it from traveling, plant it in a festive and sturdy container. Another advantage to this is that you can bring the container in when the weather starts to turn chilly. You can then enjoy the calming scent all year round.

Use this versatile herb in the kitchen to add a light citrus note to salads, teas, or chicken and fish dishes. Add Lemon Balm last when cooking, as it's flavor dissipates tremendously when heated. It's a perfect compliment to tea, either on it's own or as that little lemon burst in regular tea.

The aroma of lemon balm provides a calming effect, while revitalizing the inner spirit. For skin care, it acts as an insect repellent. Bit already - chew on a leaf a bit to mash it up and rub it on the bite area and sweet melissa will help calm that buggy nibble. It is also a wonderful hair rinse, freshening your hair without stripping out the oils. We use lemon balm in our Mela Tae - Lemon Bright Hair Rinse. Combined with nettles and chamomile and other herbs, this tea makes a refreshing and brightening rinse for tired hair.

The article in the Herb Companion can give you lots of information about the 2007 Herb of the Year.

If you are lucky enough to already have Lemon Balm growing in your garden - just brush your hands through the leaves and take in the lovely, lemony fragrance. Despite the nippy weather, you'll be reminded of a wonderful summer day.

Count Down to Herb Day - Preserve the Harvest

As we approach the end of the harvest season, that age old question comes to mind - now what do I do with all these herbs?

There are a number of methods to keep the taste of summer going all year long. Below are some quick suggestions to help you keep the flavor and fragrance of your herbs until you start harvesting next seasons crops.

The North Carolina State University website has some wonderful guidelines for harvesting your herbs at their peak.

Freezing: I use one of two methods for freezing herbs. One is to rinse them off, then roll them in paper towel to dry them off. Discard that paper towel and place a new one in a zip lock bag and freeze. Then when you need fresh herbs, break off a hunk and use! Another method is to coarsely chop the herbs. Place them into an ice cube tray and barely cover with water. Freeze and use when needed!

Drying: I have some wonderful friends. Last Christmas time they gave me a wonderful dehydrator. I use it for flowers, fruits, and herbs.

If you don't have a dehydrator, try drying them the old fashioned way. Take bunches of your favorite herb. Tie the ends together and hand in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. A closet or the attic are good places to do this. Drying in this manner works really well with lavender, chives, dill, sage and thyme.

If you are lucky enough to have a gas oven, you can also dry your herbs by laying them out on a layer of paper towels that have been placed on a cookie sheet. Let them sit on the lowest rack of the oven to dry.

Preserve in oils or vinegars: Infusing oils and vinegars with the fresh taste of summer herbs is easy and fun.

For more information about preserving herbs, check out this great article in the Herb Companion, and start saving all of your hard work!

Count Down to Herb Day - A Touch of Polish with Horsetail

Horsetail, also known as shavegrass, dates back to prehistoric times. It's a basic plant, whose delicate looking stems are sturdier than you'd imagine. Don't let it's simple appearance fool you - it is a true work horse that is packed with silica crystals.

Although it prefers damp, swampy areas, it's quite adaptable to a variety of soil and light conditions. I have small stand of these interesting reeds growing in my garden, and their stately presences is a real treat. But they can get to be invasive, so I have to watch these wondering wonders.

Shavegrass was once use the sander of choice for wood workers and pewter smiths. Just gather a bunch of the reeds and tie the ends together and you have a fine sander that gives wood and metals an beautiful patina. I've seen walking sticks that have been polished with horsetail that were so smooth and silken to the touch, it was hard to believe a simple herb did this. Whenever I chip a nail while I'm gardening

(which is more often than I'd like to admit), I grab a piece of horsetail and use it as a nail file.

The silica properties in Horsetail also make it a wonderful addition to hair rinses. It's a key ingredient on our Mela Tae Bright and Moon Hair Rinses.

I've never tried using Shavegrass in a tea, although it is said that it is said that it is a good diuretic and antispasmodic.

To find out more about this herb that adds a dramatic touch to your garden, check out Well Sweep Herb Farm, or A Modern Herbal.

Count Down to Herb Day - Herbal Sugars for Sweet Success

Saturday, October 11 is Herb Day! The herbs around us are intricately woven parts of everyday life, whether you realize it or not. From cooking to medicine, beauty care to cleaning, herbs serve purposes besides beauty in your garden.

The first Herb Day was celebrated only a few years ago, in October of 2006. It was the inspiration of 5 herbal organizations: American Botanical Council, United Plant Savers, the American Herbal Products Association, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the American Herbalists Guild. It's a day to learn and celebrate herbs of all kinds.

As an herb enthusiast and student, I thought I'd share an herbal idea everyday to get you thinking about all the great uses for herbs of all kinds.

Today: herbal sugars.

Making flavored herbal sugars is easy and fun. A great family project, too, because children can help create these multi-use treats.

You'll need:

• 1 large, well cleaned dry glass jar with a lid. Quart mason jars work well or cleaned out spaghetti jars (Well cleaned out!)
• 1/2 to 1 cup (loosely packed) of your herb of choice - see some suggestions below.
• Sugar to fill your jar.

1. Rinse your herbs and make sure the are thoroughly dried off.
2. Lightly crush the herbs to help release some of the oils.
3. Put about 1/2 inch worth of sugar in the jar.
4. Place a layer of herb on top of the sugar.
5. Place a layer of sugar, followed by a layer of herbs.
6. Continue layering until you reach within 1/2 of the top of the jar.
7. Seal the jar tightly.
8. Let this sit for at least two weeks, but the longer you let it sit, the stronger the flavor.

Yes - it's that easy. Some wonderful herbs to use in your sugar: lemon verbena or lemon balm (my favorites), rose petal, lavender, rose geranium leaves - or any of the edible geraniums, mint, sage, marjoram, calendula petals - what ever grows in your garden! You can also do this with spices like vanilla beans, allspice, nutmeg, or coriander. Or try adding the dried rinds of oranges, lemons or limes.

Now what to do with this abundance of sweet flavors? Use them in hot or cold teas or punch. Sprinkly them on French Toast. Use when making a glaze for meat or chicken. They are terrific when baking, adding a wonderful depth and mystery to your usual cake or cookies. Whatever you would use sugar for - make it more flavorful with an herbal sugar.

If you have ideas for using your herbal sugars - feel free to share!

The Joy of Well Sweep Herb Farm

Several times a year, including in the winter, I take a pilgrimage to one of the most interesting and beautiful places in New Jersey. Well Sweep Herb Farm is one of those amazing spots that you can get lost in, and I love getting lost there.

I don't remember quite how I discovered Well Sweep (and yes, it is Well Sweep, named after the water fetching devise for the well). I think it was on the Internet about 3 years ago. In search for a close location where I could look over the herbs I was studying, I came across what sounded like a slice of heaven on earth. Little did I know the education I would get, and the delights I would find.

The real treasure of Well Sweep isn't the multitude and vast selection of herbs and perennial plants, it's the Hyde family that runs the farm. Louise is chief cook and bottle washer, charged with running the events the farm offers throughout the year. Last time I was there she made a wonderful Rose Geranium punch. I'm still trying to duplicate it at home. Cyrus is the herb aficionado. You can always find him in the gardens, and he gladly give advice, history, and lore of the plants you can see that he clearly adores.

Well Sweep and the Hyde family have been honored by the Herb Society of America, the International Herb Association, as well as the New York Botanical Garden. Their plants range from the everyday basil to the exotic frankincense.

If you like herbs, or plants, or gardening, Well Sweep is a stop you must make. It's educational, peaceful, and a true celebration of the wonder of herbs.